Southwest Japan On High Alert Over Typhoon
A large typhoon is moving over the country's Southwest, skirting the southern main island of Kyushu. Weather officials are calling on people to stay on alert.
Officials say that as of 9 a.m. on Monday, Typhoon Haishen was 110 kilometers north of Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture. They say it was moving north at 40 kilometers per hour.
The storm is now bringing strong winds to Kyushu and part of the Chugoku region. Gusts of over 155 kilometers per hour were measured at around 6 a.m. in Tsushima.
The typhoon is also causing heavy rain in wide areas of the country. Authorities are warning of landslides, swollen rivers and flooding in low-lying areas. At least 32 people have been injured in Kyushu.
A woman in her 80s says that she was worried after hearing the typhoon would be so powerful. Another woman in her 80s says it's the first time she evacuated.
Many emergency shelters are accepting fewer people and turning away evacuees in order to prevent coronavirus infections.
More than 500,000 households are without electricity. The utilities say work to restore power will begin as soon as possible.
The storm is also disrupting travel. About 580 domestic flights are canceled on Monday. These include flights to and from the Shikoku and Chugoku regions as well as Kyushu.
All Kyushu Shinkansen trains are also canceled on Monday, along with all Sanyo Shinkansen trains between Hakata and Hiroshima.
